The Gondola Maker

Starred review from January 27, 2014
Sixteenth-century Venice is the star of Morelliâs well-crafted historical novel about teenage Luca Vianello, the eldest son and heir of the cityâs most renowned gondola builder. After his beloved mother dies during childbirth at the age of 44, Luca argues with his father and blames him for the tragedy. In a rage, Luca accidently sets fire to his fatherâs workshop and leaves home. Luca works a succession of menial jobs under an alias, until he becomes the personal gondolier of a noted artist named Trevisan and finds himself smitten with a stunning young woman whom Trevisan is painting. While a wealth of period lore and beautifully rendered settingâthe cityâs unique sounds, smells, and heritageâdominate her novel, Morelli creates poignantly convincing characters in this handsome coming-of-age novel about adoration, pain, and destiny.